Dean Shiels will have to wait another week to make his Derry City debut after it emerged that he still has a one-game suspension to serve from his time with Dunfermline in Scotland.

Hopes were high that Shiels would make his debut this evening against Limerick, especially with the Candystripes struggling for numbers, but the FAI have upheld the suspension, ruling the forward out.

Shiels was red-carded against Falkirk in January at the end of a controversial Cup fixture in which he suffered abuse from fans and Bairns players Joe McKee and Kevin O'Hara, who taunted him over the loss of an eye.

Shiels received a two-game ban for his dismissal but served only one and the FAI have now decided that the one remaining fixture must be served.

It is yet more bad news for Derry boss Kenny Shiels - Dean's dad - who has endured a frustrating few weeks with a number of players departing, leaving him short-handed.

"Dean received two games when he was abused and he retaliated," he said. "One has been served, but they wouldn't suspend him for a league game because it happened in the Ramsden Cup. The FAI are suspending him which is very strange. It's a massive blow to us."

Adding to Kenny Shiels' frustration is the delay in registering both Ally Roy and Aaron Splaine. It was expected that both players, who featured for Derry in a friendly win at Cliftonville earlier this week, would feature against Limerick but it now appears as if neither will be available.

It is not all bad news for Shiels, however, as former Exeter defender Danny Seaborne is set to go straight into the team. With full-back Jack Doyle leaving last week to return to Blackburn Rovers, the availability of Seaborne is a welcome relief.

Canadian Ben Fisk, who impressed in the defeat to Shamrock Rovers last week, is also in line for his Brandywell debut as Derry attempt to get back to winning ways.

Since the beginning of May, they have lost eight from 11 league games.

"We must try to get back to winning ways," Shiels said. "Hopefully we can get some positivity about the club."